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Ariston

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Everything posted by Ariston

  1. I am organizing a group buy for the Prodigy math game. The homeschool group rate will be $13.50 per child, as opposed to $60 without the group discount. We still need about 10 more memberships to qualify. ​If you're interested join this FB page or PM me if you don't do facebook. And feel free to spread the word on other groups you're part of. Thanks!
  2. I am organizing a group buy for the prodigy math game. We need about ten more buyers to get the group rate of $13.50 per child. Normal price without the homeschool group rate is $60! If you are interested join this facebook page or PM me if you don't do FB. And feel free to share with other HSing groups you're part of!
  3. Not a YouTube channel, but a resource for the future. Have you checked out xtramath.org? It takes about ten minutes per day. 7 might be young for it depending on his temperament. It's timed and that really stresses some younger kids out. But you might want to keep it I'm your back pocket for the future. ( my daughter hated it at 7 but uses it very day now at 10.) There is also a game called Prodigy that reinforces facts that he could play for 15 minutes. sorry, I know you asked for videos.... :)
  4. I started when my kids were enjoying reading chapter books on their own. Once that was solidly established I felt comfortable assigning them things that they would not necessarily pick up on their own. They have to read from my assigned book at least 30 minutes per day. (They are 10 and 12.) 9 times out of 10 it turns out being something they really like and they start reading it on their own time. Occasionally they hate it and I have to decide whether to force them to finish it or not. I keep a spreadsheet where I list all the books I want them to read before 6th grade or so. I use Jim Trelease's Read Aloud Handbook as a guide, along with Sonlight and a few other sources online. I keep track of the suggested reading levels and then look at that every week when its time to assign a new book.
  5. I think there's a pretty wide age range. I read SOTW 1 to my kids occasionally when they were 2nd-ish, but my daughter is reading it now in its entirety at age 10 and seems to be getting a lot out of it. My son is also reading it at 12 and not complaining, though I haven't had a chance to ask his impressions yet.
  6. LOL. Well I guess that explains my confusion. I guess I should have looked into the program more before buying it So if you did it on paper you would literally just read out the words and then correct it once and move on? What about sight words? Do they cycle them back through for repetition? Maybe we'll try it for another week. But I really wish they had hired someone to read the words. One of the words was 'chinned' which neither my daughter nor myself could understand. Another sentence said what both of us thought was "they scraped their shins" but turned out to be "chins.". She doesn't hate it, but is in a state of mild annoyance. At least the price is right. Maybe I'll un-ask for my refund and try to stick it out.
  7. I just wanted to come back and share our experience. The online component does not actually provide any instruction or practice. It is just a computer generated voice reading out words (and sentences for context.) The student types in the word and is marked correct or prompted to fix it. then on to the next word. About 10-20 per day it seems. That's it! I was expecting a program that would actually teach the rules, etc. I am not familiar with the SS books but I am guessing this is meant to be a replacement for the student workbooks only, although that was not made clear on the website! It was a big disappointment to us, and I have requested a refund from the company. Frankly even if we had the teachers guide I would not use the online part because of the computer generated voice. It was not easy to understand. There were a few times my daughter called me over to help her and I could not tell what the computer was saying either. Plus, there are websites where you can enter your spelling list and have them dictate tests to you if that is all you're interested in. I really wish I could find a good online program for my daughter! It seems like the simplest of subjects to teach online...I don't know why I can't find one?
  8. I have a 12 year old who still needs me to be with him basically through his whole math lesson, so I understand your frustration. I have been at that point where I felt like I needed him to be more independent but have eventually realized that this is just not realistic for him. However during those times when I am struggling I've had him take a break and do some things that are independent. We've used xtramath (if he still needs to improve his speed with math facts.) Prodigy was also a hit (I actually am trying to get a group buy going right now....PM me if you're interested.) He has a free trial to Dreambox right now and I think I am going to bite the bullet and pay for that because he enjoys it and its nice to have some things he CAN do independently. Last year we had a period where he watched Khan videos. (We also tried Life of Fred last year because it is independent but it was a big flop.) This year I am at a point where I can spend much less time sitting with the older kids and doing school with them, but I've come to realize that math with my son is one subject that he will probably never be able to do independently....at least not for the foreseeable future. I do try to stretch out the independent parts of the work (i.e. sit with him for 15 minutes and then walk away while he works on a few problems.) But really the amount he is capable of doing independently is so minimal its barely worth it. I think in prior years I was always trying to make him more and more independent thinking that was the goal. Last year though he was at the point where it really bothered HIM that he could not sit and concentrate on his work by himself. I could see that if he were able to do it, he would be doing it! So then I just kind of realized that independence was not my goal....having him progress in math was my goal. So now I've just resigned myself to the fact that I'll be spending an hour with him doing math probably until he's 18 :) I hope you find something that works for you in the short term as you get through this frustrating period, and in the long term!
  9. I came across this free download today. It is a DK introduction to Chinese, along with mp3's. It's called Easy Peasy Chinese but it looks like the titleis selling on Amazon now as Get Talking Chinese: Mandarin Chinese for Beginners.
  10. SfC remains, after years and years, the ONLY curriculum I have bought that I went to the trouble of returning. I do speak Spanish and I could not stand it and if I remember correctly, it was confusing AND incorrect in places. I found GSWS to be a waste of money, but if my kids were complete beginners maybe I'd feel differently. The price for the amount of material it covers is very high, IMO, though I do realize it serves a function for people who need a gentle and non-intimidating introduction. I'll try to write some resources I've found, later when I have time.
  11. Thanks. I was just looking at the Hake samples online and I don't think it would be a good fit. It looks like it would be way too much and overwhelming for him, and would require a lot of tweaking on my part which I don't have time for. I'll check out your suggestions. I'm also thinking I might just do MCT, and possibly add in BW and leave it at that for this year.
  12. HSBC has it for $120 (still a lot, but a little better at least.) Did they just not enjoy it? Or did they play it but not progress? Why don't you think they liked it--do they not like computer math games in general?
  13. ETA: Feel free to skip the not-so-brief background and jump to my actual question :)) Brief background: I've been mostly in the delayed academics camp when it comes to writing and grammar. The only grammar that my kids have done is grammar land, which they loved and retained. They have done zero assigned writing, and have had no writing instruction, narration, copywork, etc. My 10 year old daughter loves to write on her own, and the things she writes are often very interesting and well worded. My 12 year old son is dyslexic and dysgraphic. Writing is definitely physically painful/exhausting for him, and he also has a hard time mentally structuring what he wants to say. He rarely writes on his own. I think whatever I use to get him writing will have to be very step by step and incremental. I may be wrong but I think he'll need something to teach him exactly what to do in a manageable way. I have a feeling that's the opposite of what my daughter will need, since she seems to be able to naturally write pretty darn well and just needs help with structuring her paragraphs and ideas. Ok, sorry, that wasn't as brief as I had meant. Well this year we are going to jump in. I'm pretty much set on MCT Town. I was also considering Bravewriter Partnership Writing. (I have The Writers Jungle but haven't looked at it in years and never understood how to use it.) For some reason I also wanted to add in Hake/Saxon Grammar 5. I thought it looked like it might give the step-by-step help my son needs. Any thoughts? Am I jumping in too deep since they haven't done anything yet? Would any one of these be enough, or would they complement each other? Also if you have experience with these programs how much of a daily commitment are they, and how independent? I know MCT will not be independent but not sure about the other two. ​TIA!
  14. Where were all of you people 4 years ago when I bought TWJ only to have it collect dust? I am seriously considering Partnership Writing for my 10 year old who loves to write and my 12 year old who is dyslexic/dysgraphic and loves to think but is scared/pained by writing. From the samples it looks like you are supposed to get some lessons from Arrow...do you need a subscription to that to use PW (which would put it out of our budget) or is it complete as is?
  15. thanks for sharing. I'm really interested in this. Would you say it is more geared towards younger students or would it be appropriate for middle schoolers too? Do you have any experience with kids moving from this to normal written math? does the program include transition to written math?
  16. My kids currently have a trial to Dreambox and I'm considering buying it for the year. For a variety of reasons, they are doing almost all of their work on the computer this year so I need to find good online resources. I was under the impression that some families used dreambox as a math curriculum, but from what I can see so far it is really just review and practice of what they already know. There isn't actually instruction. Am I wrong? is there a part of the program where they learn new concepts?
  17. Would love to try it out with my 10 and 12 year old. They've only done grammar land and I really need to find some more resources this year.
  18. I've just signed my 10 year old daughter up. I'll let you know how it goes. Nothing has really helped her spelling although to be fair we haven't stuck with any one thing for long. This year she's doing a lot of her schooling online so at least this will get done. Fingers crossed I'll see some improvement.
  19. I asked for a friend of mine who is in the same boat and they said that no, you cannot renew a paid subscription at the group rate until your membership has expired.
  20. Thank you! I have looked high and low for an online spelling program that is more than just practice with lists of words! I am really excited to check this out.
  21. The other group buy that Jennifer started has come and gone, and I didn't join in time so I started another one. Hoping to get 30 people by September 1st. For those who didn't see the other thread, Prodigy is normally $60 per year but HS'ers can get a group rate of $12 per child per year! Instructions on how to join here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/304148646606258/ (PM if you are not on facebook but still want to join the buy.) Now, hopefully, my kids will stop complaining about how they can't keep any of the cool items they are getting ;)
  22. Do you have Jim Trelease's Read Aloud Handbook? Short reviews of hundreds of RA's with age and topics listed.
  23. We have a local fb group too that isn't too big (we're a small rural area.). If the group buy needs more people let me know and I'll post it on there--but I won't post it unless you request it :)
  24. I had no idea there was such a thing as a group buy! My kids used to play but gave it up because they couldn't get anywhere without memberships. I'm good for two! Jennifer just requested to join your fb page.
  25. Is it accurate that your kids are 5, 3, and newborn? If so, then here's what I would do (well, what I DID do, in a similar situation.) Speak to the newborn only in Spanish. You would be amazed how much everyone else will learn, including your husband :) Your other kids are young enough that if you speak to them they will pick it up too. But I've found nothing has improved the Spanish in our house as much as speaking to the newborn. The baby doesn't resist it because s/he doesn't know any language yet, so Spamosh is as good as any. And the older kids (and even a disinterested husband) will start to use it with the baby, because then it becomes the baby's language. All of baby's books and eventually tv can be in Spanish, too.
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